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James Town
The very permanent English colony was estabished to provide profit for the mother country.It was only after tabacoo, an important cash crop was established that jamestown became a success. -
House Of Burgesses
The colonial governing body allowed the colonist their first taste of self-government Representative from each burgess or district would meet and establish taxes and laws for their area.THis had to meet with the royal governor's approval,but colonist still felt that they had power. -
Mayflower Compact
The puritan from the plymouth colony (Mass) decided to create their own laws, which established the important self-governing principle of majority rule. -
Fundamental orders of Connecticut
First written constitution by a colony, limited the power of government, majority rule, consent of the governed (the people),protected minority rights. -
Mercantilism
Economic system that was beneficial to the home/mother country because of favorable trade blame (more exports than imports), accumulation of wealth (especially gold and silver), and colonies that provide raw materials and markets for good. -
Triangular Trade
New england merchants traded basic supplies with the west indies in return ofr sugar and molasses,(which could be made into run). Later Africa was added to the route and the leg that transported slaves from the west coast of africa to the New England colonies became known as the "Middle passage" This trade was often donde without the involvement of the English government. -
Maryland Toleration
Law granting religious freedom to all Christians (protestant and catholic) living in the maryland colony (did not include Jewish religion -
Navigation Acts
England felt that the American colonies were gainiing great profit though overseas trade and wanted a greater share of profit. These acts strictly enforced policies that established Britian as the middleman in colonial trade. Any ships had to pass though English ports and have majority English or colonial crew on board.English authoriries also had approval over which countries could trade with the colonies; this provision seriously lessened colonial profits -
John Peter Zenger
Zenger was accused of sedition and libal by a royal official who took offence to the newspaper man's criticism of limits on free expression.Zenger was put on trial in front of a colonial jury who found him innocent because what he printed was the truth.This decision is the basic for the fundamental American freedom of press. -
Great Awakening
Many colonies began expressing their religious ideas though new churches other than the church of england or Anglican Church. This direct break with the official religious authority in England shows that coloniest began thinking fotr themselfs and choosing to differ from the mother counrty -
French And Indian War
England and France have been warring on and off for over one hundred years. This time around the American colonist want to expand into the Ohio Valley and Canada. The skirmishgets its name because England and her colonies were fighting against the combined forces of france and her Native american allies. The Native like the French a lot more than the Englis because the French are not heavily settled in the area and trended to be trading partners. -
Albany Plan Of Union
Benjamin Franklin's attempt to unite volunteers from all colonies to establish a common defence.The plan didn't work but it was the first time colonists planned to unite to defence themselves without the help of England. -
Proclamation
In an attempt to settle the Native along the frontier, England banned all colonial settlement past the Appalachin Moutains.This policy enraged the colonist who fought the French and Indian war for more land -
Stamp Act
England's lastest attempt to get money from the colonies comes in the form of a direct tax on a variety of goods.Things ranged form legal documents to deck of cards. The colonies protest by going after custom agents and later organie a more effective boycott of England good. -
Tea Act
In an effort to ease tention with their American colonists and save their lagging east India Company, the British government passes this act which gives all colonial tea business to the India company but at a much lower price to the consumer. Rather than be greatful, being cut out of their own business outrages the colonies. This is what led Samul Adams and many others to dress up as native and act out the Boston Tea Party. -
Intolerable Acts
In an effort to punish the members of the Boston community for the Boston Tea Party, The Brithsh government vows revenge until the damaged tea is completely paid for. Boston is hurt the worst by the closing of the local harbor, but other punishments such as a curfew and Marshall law are put into place which utrage the citizens.Colonist from other areas are incensed by behavior and these actions serve to distance more than just New Englanders from the crown. -
Quartering Act
This part of the intolerable Act was especially infuriating to the colonists who felt that ehy should not have shoulder the responsibility of housing the British Army when they don't want them around in the first place, Few colonist actually had to have thier privacy compromised but the idea of possible doing so outraged many. -
Lexington & Concord
Fighting between colonial militias (minutemen) and british soldiers occur when Gen.Gagc finds out that colonists are stockpiling weapons.When he tries to confiscate the arms he is met with armed resistance.The first shot between the two sides was fired in a crowd and no one is sure who shot first.Colonist officially became the enemy of the British and Boston was now held captive by the British army. -
Olive Branch Petition
A communitee of the colonist draft a letter to the king of england asking for an end to fighting and vow obedience if certain demands are met. king George III refuses to even read the letter. -
Boston Massacre
Tension between colonies and the standing army left over from the French and Indian War as been high. Mnay citizens feel that the soldiers were spying on them , other resent the competition they present for local jobs. When soldiers begin fighting colonist for jobs, someone shoots into the crowd. When the violence ends, five colonist are dead. To drum up support, Samuel Adams and other patriots dub the skirmish a "massacure".